Prime Minister Hasina Resigns and Escapes to India

In a dramatic and historic political shift, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and left the capital, Dhaka, amid widespread and violent protests. This decision comes as the nation experiences some of the worst unrest in Hasina’s 15-year rule. Protests initially began over civil service job quotas but have since expanded into a broad anti-government movement demanding her resignation.

Prime Minister’s Departure:

• Sheikh Hasina and her sister, Sheikh Rehana, left the Ganabhaban, the Prime Minister’s official residence, for a safer location, as confirmed by a source to AFP. “She and her sister have left Ganabhaban for a safer place,” said the source.
• Attempts by Hasina to record a speech were unsuccessful. “She wanted to record a speech. But she could not get an opportunity to do that,” the source added.
• Sheikh Hasina reportedly left Bangabhaban at around 2:30 PM on Monday in a military helicopter, accompanied by her sister, and is traveling to India.

Protests and Public Unrest:

• Hundreds of thousands of protesters defied curfew, marching through the streets of Dhaka and storming the Prime Minister’s palace.
• Visuals captured crowds entering the official residence, celebrating and waving to cameras.
• Soldiers and police with armored vehicles barricaded routes to Hasina’s office with barbed wire, but vast crowds overwhelmed these defenses, tearing down barriers.
• Local media estimated around 400,000 protesters on the streets, though this figure remains unverified.

Casualties and Army Response:

• The protests have resulted in significant casualties, with 98 people killed in fierce clashes on Sunday, increasing the death toll to over 300 since the unrest began last month.
• Bangladesh Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman announced he would address the nation following these clashes.
• In his address, General Waker-Uz-Zaman confirmed Hasina’s resignation and announced the formation of an interim government to manage the country amid the crisis. “The prime minister has resigned, and an interim government will now run the country,” he stated.
• The Army Chief emphasized that the army would ensure peace and justice for the deaths and crimes during the protests. “We will also ensure that justice is served for every death and crime that occurred during the protests,” he added.

Nature of the Protests:

• What began as rallies against civil service job quotas evolved into a larger anti-government movement.
• The protests have drawn support from various segments of society, including film stars, musicians, and singers. Songs promoting the protests have widely circulated on social media.
• Protesters rejected Hasina’s invitation for dialogue, consolidating their demands into a call for her resignation.

Immediate Aftermath:

• Following a night of deadly violence, media reported a celebratory mood on the streets as news of Hasina’s departure spread.
• General Waker-Uz-Zaman urged citizens to trust the army to restore peace and called for patience and an end to violence and vandalism. “We have invited representatives from all major political parties, and they have accepted our invitation and committed to collaborating with us,” he mentioned.
• The general called on the public to exercise patience and cease any acts of violence and vandalism. “We will also ensure that justice is served for every death and crime that occurred during the protests,” he said.
• National television showed thousands of people breaking into the Prime Minister’s residence and celebrating in the streets.
• Al Jazeera’s Tanvir Chowdhury, reporting from Shahbag Square, noted the unprecedented nature of the celebrations, with students and families verifying Hasina’s resignation. “I have never witnessed something like this in the capital,” Chowdhury reported. “Students and families with their children out celebrating, checking if she has either left the country or resigned. The government has most likely fallen, and the army will decide what the next step is, which is probably an interim government,” he added.